Go With the Little Voice

In public speaking, there are times when a little voice inside you seems to say, “Leave this out,” or “Add this line,” or “Stop here.” Sometimes something totally unplanned just seems to come out of your mouth. Don’t fight this urge—encourage it. Some of your best ideas will come to you as you are speaking; you may think of a story or sentence that you had never practiced that seems just right at that moment.

The point of this article is to give you tips on how to encourage the little voice to speak to you as you are presenting to an audience. Practice encourages this intuitive skill that will enhance the quality of your speech. Each time you practice your presentation, remembering material takes less effort and you feel more comfortable connecting with your audience at a personal level. This encourages the little voice to work for you because you are more relaxed.
Expose your mind to as much new material as possible. This does not mean simply looking for material for your speech, but being open to ideas and stories you find reading nonfiction, newspapers, journals, traveling, and talking to people. With this background, new material seems to come to you readily as you are in the moment of speaking to a specific audience. I find this especially true with reading the newspaper. A point that I had not considered in my most recent practice session will often pop up during my speech based on an article that I’ve read recently.

Expect the little voice to speak to you during your presentation. Pausing occasionally to let the audience catch up is also a time when intuition kicks in and you may add a line or example that fits exactly what you are discussing. Anticipate the little voice just as you anticipate looking at your notes at the right time.

Don’t be afraid to speak the new or unexpected thought when it comes to you as you are speaking. I have found that an idea that comes to me in the middle of a speech is usually better than any thought I had planned to say at that moment. In addition, be sure to write down the new material as soon as possible after finishing so that you can add it the next time you make that point in a speech. Of course, don’t use this an excuse to go rambling off on some unrelated story!

Preparation is essential of course, but the little voice we call intuition, telling you to change or add a thought in the middle of your speech, can add quality and depth to your next presentation.

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Directions That Work

Some of our most important communication involves giving and receiving directions. These vital pieces of information can be related to a new job, a proposal for a client, or getting to the location of a client or to a restaurant where a staff meeting is held. Nothing is more frustrating than going to the wrong location or missing an important part of a proposal because directions were not clear or you were not listening. Here are some suggestions to make sure you don’t end up in the south end of the city while the client is waiting for you in the north end.

Be specific in giving directions. Mention street and exit numbers or give details of compliance issues with a proposal or job rules. Don’t assume the person knows what you mean when you say, “You’ll turn right soon after you get on the road at the service station.”

In either giving or receiving directions, use landmarks to help you be clear. If you are giving directions to a new location and the person you are talking to knows the general area, say, “Once you drive past the water tower, you will start looking for exit signs,” or “When you pass the Jones Elementary school on the right.…” This saves you time and helps give both the giver and receiver of directions confidence about being on the right track in getting to the destination. If there are certain parts of the proposal which are the same as the last proposal, you might start with those since that gives the persons involved an intellectual landmark that clarifies information.

Repeat directions! Never be on the receiving end of directions without ending by repeating the essentials. Begin by saying, “Now let me make sure I understand. What you are saying is that I need to …” If you are the directions giver say, “I want to make sure I have been clear. Tell me how you are going to get to the ABC Client.” Writing down the key elements of the instructions always aids clarity.

Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for definitions and explanations of unfamiliar terms. Ask about landmarks which might be helpful. “Is that near…,” or “Is the format of the report the same as the last one we did for this company?”

You must be at your best seeking to be understood and to understand when directions are involved. If you follow these suggestions, frustrations will be less and human relations will be enhanced.
 

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